By Alan Carasso
In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses:
Saturday, May 25, 2024
2nd-KYO, ¥10,480,000 ($67k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
IZANAGI (c, 3, City of Light–Miss Squeal, by Smart Strike) cost $625,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September sale and was the latest of his dam's produce to make a commercial splash, joining his half-brother Spielberg (Union Rags). That colt was sold for an even $1 million at the 2019 September Sale before placing in the GI Del Mar Futurity and GI American Pharoah S. ahead of a victory in the 2020 GII Los Alamitos Futurity. Miss Squeal is a half-sister to seven winners, three of those at black-type level, including 2017 Curlin S. hero Outplay (Bernardini). This is also the Humphrey family of MGIS Clear Mandate (Deputy Minister), the dam of MGSW/MGISP sire Newfoundland (Storm Cat) and GISW Strong Mandate (Tiznow). B-G Watts Humphrey Jr (KY)
PINK EAGLE (c, 3, American Pharoah–Daisy Miller {GB}, by Smart Strike) fetched $175,000 from trainer Hideyuki Mori at KEESEP in 2022 and is out of an unraced half-sister to 2020 GIII Comely S. winner Mrs. Danvers (Tapit) and the Grade II-placed Nathan Detroit (Union Rags). The colt's MSW & GISP third dam Starry Dreamer (Rubiano) produced eight winners–including five stakes winners–from eight to race, most notably the outstanding GSW & MGISP sire War Front (Danzig). B-Greathouse Equine LLC, David Greathouse, Kerry Cauthen & Tony Lacy (KY)
Sunday, May 26, 2024
3rd-TOK, ¥10,480,000 ($67k), Maiden, 3yo, 1600m
PARIS PLAGES (f, 3, Uncle Mo–Paris Bikini, by Bernardini) was acquired in utero by Katsumi Yoshida for $1.95 million at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale in 2020 a handful of months after her half-sister Paris Lights (Curlin) gutted out a narrow victory in the GI Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga. Paris Bikini is a half-sister to GSW & MGISP America (A.P. Indy), the dam of 'TDN Rising Star' First Captain (Curlin), who is set to begin his stallion career in Brazil this coming summer. This is also the family of Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister), responsible for GI Belmont S. winners Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy) and Jazil (Seeking the Gold). Paris Plages has one start under her belt, a well-backed fifth going seven furlongs at Kyoto last October. She carries the colors of Sunday Racing. B-Northern Racing (KY)
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